Whilst at a friend's house in France last week we witnessed a bluetit coming time and again to a window and fluttering against it. Now we are at home we have seen the same behaviour here at our kitchen window, not far from a box which we saw them preparing to use 6 weeks ago before we went away. The bird does not seem to be aggressive just confused. Is it likely that it is the male trying to protect its patch as perhaps the female is egg sitting already??? Could he be trying to see off another tit or is he thinking that his reflection is a possible friend? Have not observed much coming and going from the box yet but if there is a female sitting then there would be little activity. Can anyone help solve our puzzle?
Happy birding!
Hi JoG
I have seen this behaviour before at a friends house. It happens when the blue tit can see it's reflection in the window and it is protecting it's patch.
I saw the same behaviour with a great tit.
I think it depends how well it can see it's reflection in the glass or what's behind the window that helps it to see it's reflection
Best wishes Chris
Click Here to see my photos
Whilst enjoying my bacon roll after a long walk with the dogs at Black Park, Bucks we were entertained not so much by the mad blue tit that kept fluttering at his reflection in the cafe windows, but the reaction of his partner scolding him.
To humanise her reaction it was a bit like "For goodness sake it's you, you fool, now stop messing about!" She gave up in the end and left him to it.
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
Thanks for replying! Today I have observed that there is definitely a pair of bluetit and she is not egg sitting yet. I think they are staking a claim to the nest box nearby and the male is keeping what he perceives as possible interlopers at bay...albeit his own reflection. He did seem to have slightly raised feathers on his head on some occasions when he landed on the sill. I think you are right...the female is almost embarrassed by him or are we putting human traits and feelings where they should not be? All good fun anyway.
Hi,
I've seen tits and robins doing the same to car wing mirrors :) Seems to be territorial.
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
Now you mention it we have seen pied wagtail doing it to a car wing mirror and also to our own campervan mirror though then we decided it was also waiting for spiders etc to emerge from behind the mirror. Clever things these birds...no flies on them!!
The bluetits are now busy nest building but one still comes to the windows and flutters....guess he does think it is an adversary he can see.